We raise a beer to 2013

Dec. 26, 2013

Written by

Eric

Connor

It’s that time of year again, when we suddenly turn our eyes from the relative serenity of Christmas to the din of New Year’s Eve.

So, with that in mind, let’s tip our glasses and mugs for a toast to 2013.

It was an eventful year for craft beer in Greenville and the state of South Carolina.

In fact, it really was a year of firsts.

First, the biggest thing to happen for beer in at least a couple of years was passage of the so-called “Pint Law.”

Until its passage this summer, breweries in South Carolina were allowed only to sell small sample sizes of their brews to visitors to consume on-site.

This put the state at a disadvantage in particular to our neighbor to the north, the other Carolina, where visitors can drink pints as they tour and hang out.

The law in South Carolina was a detriment to encouraging new breweries to open, as the ability to sell on-site is a major source of revenue.

In the end, a legislative compromise following concerns over drunken driving set the limit at 48 ounces (three pints) for a person in one day.

Thomas Creek and Quest Brewing in Greenville, along with R.J. Rockers in Spartanburg, immediately took advantage, opening the way for breweries as destinations where you can stick around for live music and food trucks.

Quest opened its doors last July to an astonishing crowd of 1,700 and is working hard to keep up with a healthy demand.

The opening came the same day as Thomas Creek celebrated its 15th anniversary, a year also marking a huge expansion for the brewery that will expand its production capability.

The brewery also announced plans for a restaurant in the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, as did R.J. Rockers.

And there’s room for more.

As we reach the end of the year, both Brewery 85 and the Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom are on the verge of opening to the public, joining new breweries in Columbia, Charleston and elsewhere in the state.

The firsts don’t end with the breweries.

This year, Greenville saw two new beer festivals.

In April, The Community Tap put on its first festival at Larkin’s Saw Mill on North Main — to great acclaim.

Just a month ago, the first Greenville Craft Beer Festival brought in breweries locally, regionally and nationally to the West End’s Fluor Field.

Barley’s downtown had its second “Biggest Little Beer Fest” with another soon to come and won its second “Most Arrogant Bar in the USA” title bestowed by California’s Stone Brewing.

School was in session too. In late summer, the Greenville Growler Station held its first “Beer 101” classes, branching into other classes on styles of beer and food pairings. There was so much more.